Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-01-10
FROZEN To DEATH.
Two Old PhiIadelphinns Die in Misery
One OF Them n s1iser Worth 100000
How the Pair Lived Wholly ON Bread
and " hiskey.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. s.

odus o.
The rigid bodies of two gray haired men
were found shortly before 9 O'CLOCK today
stretched upon the floor of q back room on
the premises, 1925 Locust street. The men
were Joseph Perry. once a we'll known mer-
chant and a notorious miser, and his cousin,
Richerd Price, q "ne'e do we'll" who lived
with him. Perry was over IS years old and
his companion in life and death had recently
arrived at the age Of 81.
They had lived together for ten years past,
and were inseparabIe. Perry had resided in
the Locust street house for over thirty wears.
Half a century ago Perry, then young man,
succeeded his father in the auctioneering
business at No 73 South Front street, under
the name of Comfy & Perry. He was re-
garded as shre~d, enterprising business
man, and in ante-belum days ranked as ole
of Philadelphia prominent citizens. His
economical, grasping character. however.
in time became to be generally known, and
he was buried IN obscurity long before his
retirement from business.
The firm was prosperous, and dozen
years ago Perry seeded from il with for
tune which is supposed to amount to over
$780, 900. and which is said by some to be
nearer S500,000. lie lived the lite of re-
oluse at his Locust street house and subsisted
on the barest necs ssities of life.
Shortly after his entry into private life he
fell in with his cousin Price, who was poor,
but dissoute. He took likingt to his ezra ic
relative, and opened his heart by of ring to
share with him his hume. Price gradually
gained an influence over the miser and led
him to drink.
Since that time the strange couple have
lived mostly on n small allowance of stale
bread and large quantities Of whiskey. The
house is diapidated, twO-story brick build
ing. The miser and his cousin lived entirely
on the first floor, and the door leading 10 the
upper story was boarded over and securely
pailed up. The premises are filthy and the
furniture is meagre. The floor is devoid of
carpet A few old p ints in ancient frames
hang on the rough plastered walls.
The occupants slept on dirty lounges in
the back room, while on the deserted floor
above were two comfortable-looking beds
covered with the dust of years. Under the
beds are stored boxes of all kinds, some
open, some locked; and all of them full of
papers and perhaps vsluables.
Officer Miller of the fifth district last saw
Perry alive on Monday afternoon ut Eleventh
| and Locust streets. He was intoxicated and
was staggering toward his home. Perry and
Price were both in the habit Of gong to the
| saloon of John McGough, at the southwest
COEueE OI lentu anu lLOCuSt htrcets, IOE tuciT
dinner supply of whiskey.
| McGough missed his customers for several
days past, and he began to make inquiries
this morning. Mrs. M,rgaret McGraw vino
lives next door to he miser. At No. 1923, and
of whom Perry daily purchased small loaf
| of bread, told McGuugh that she had seen M
one 60 in or out OF the house since MOnda ay
| last.
The saloon-keeper informed Officer Miller,
| and the two men began an investigation.
They tried the front door and found it Sc.
curely fastened. They went to the rear and
climbed over the back fence.
| A liltls black ard tan dog which Perry
kept in his yard, barked furiously and made
= dash for the intruders, but he was soon
made a captive. The back door was also
found to be fastened, though it yielded to a
few stalwart kicks.
the men was the bodies of Price aud Perry
stretched on the floor, with their clothing
disarranged. The officer first thought that
some one had broken in to rob the miser and
had found it necessary to murder him and
his companion.
| The impression was soon dspelled by the
peaceful expression on the faces of the dead
men. A little stove heaped full OF Goals
stood in the centre of the room, but it looked
as if no fire had been in it for months. On n
small table, which, with a lounge completed
the furniture of the room. little fragment
of bread, almost as hard as brick, was
found. Two large sized bottles filled with
whiskey lay near the bread.
| Coroner's Physician Stewart was sent for,
and he viewed the bodies and expressed the
opinion that death had resulted from starva-
ton and cold, aggravated by rum.